"A dream without action is a pipe dream."
   - Erden Eruç at the Hutch School, Sept 23 2005

Six Summits Project

The rowing phases are upon us. The departure for the circumnavigation is from Tiburon in June of 2007. This is part of Stage 2 of the Six Summits Project, in order to reach the summit of Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia by human power. The distance between Seattle and Tiburon was covered by bicycle between May 3-16, 2007.

Our journey began with Stage 1 as Erden Eruç left Seattle on February 1, 2003, riding his Novara Safari bicycle equipped with Ortlieb panniers, and towing a BOB Ibex Trailer. The road weight of the entire rig was 175 lbs. He was heading to Alaska's Denali National Park for Mt. McKinley - to summit the highest peak in North America by human power. He achieved this goal with his friends on May 29th, and rode his cycling rig back to Seattle complete with his trailer and climbing gear.

Erden was back at his home in Seattle on August 24th, 2003, officially concluding the trip at the Seattle REI the next day. His odometer read a total of 5,546 miles for the round trip to Denali. He had put in over 2,800 miles just on the return trip! One summit was done, five more remained to reach by human power...

For Erden, the Denali phase is done except for the walk out from Kahiltna Base Camp to Forks Road House. This stretch was a distance of 67 miles covered on foot during the walk in. The team chose to fly out due to time constraints. Erden will go back to complete this bit at the end of the Six Summits Project, or when the logistics allow him between now and then.

For details of the roundtrip journey to Denali from Seattle, and to read about the accomplishments of the team, please see:  Stage 1 - One done, five to go!   More recent dispatches are accessible from the home page.

Education

Departure from Seattle toward Denali came quickly and we had few contacts with students along the way in 2003. One in particular was the Chalo Elementary School of Fort Nelson First Nation Reserve, where Erden held two sessions for 3rd and 5th graders, respectively. Since then, Erden has met in person with students numbering in the thousands, including those presentations during his ride across USA in Fall 2004. Examples of Erden's complimentary school visits are as follows: two sessions at the Gatzert Elementary School in Seattle, for Kindergarten and 3rd graders, three sessions over two visits for 2nd, 4th and 6th graders at the Springbrook Elementary School in Kent, WA, one visit with the Adventure Club students at the Madrona Junior High School in Edmonds, WA, 12 sessions held over three days for the students of Rogers High School in Spokane, WA, engaging over 500 students - these included their "Learning Expeditions" groups, professional technical classes, and their soccer team, and six sessions during a one day visit to Cle Elum-Roslyn High School and Walter Strom Middle School to address over 200 students. one session for the 4th grade students at Lowell Elementary in Everett Rose Hill Montessori School in Boise, Idaho one presentation and another discussion session at the Hillcrest Elementary in Ogden, Utah Crestview Elementary School in Boulder, Colorado Alsup Elementary School in Commerce City, Colorado Adams City High School in Commerce City, Colorado Heatherwood Elementary School in Boulder, Colorado two presentations at the Chesterfield Day School in St. Louis, Missouri Wren Hollow Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri Grasslands Middle School in Nashville, Tennessee Three presentations at the Autrey Mill Middle School in Alpharetta, Georgia Bryant Elementary School in Seattle, Washington Gelişim İlköğretim Okulu, Eskişehir, Turkey Milli Zafer İlköğretim Okulu, Eskişehir, Turkey TED Vakfı Okulları, Ankara, Turkey Tevfik Fikret Okulları, Ankara, Turkey Öğretmen Hüseyin Hüsnü Tekışık İlköğretim Okulu, Ankara, Turkey Bornova Anadolu Lisesi, İzmir, Turkey Three presentations at Piri Reis İlköğretim Okulu, İzmir, Turkey Müjgan Karaçalı İlköğretim Okulu, Ankara, Turkey Two presentations at HEV Kemerköy İlköğretim Okulu, İstanbul, Turkey TED İstanbul Koleji, İstanbul, Turkey Two presentations at İlhami Ahmed Örnekal İlköğretim Okulu, İstanbul, Turkey Three presentations at the British International Schools, İstanbul, Turkey Hutch School in Seattle Cooperativa A Torre in Lisbon, Portugal Colégio de Santa Maria in Lisbon, Portugal Showalter Middle School in Tukwila Greenwood Elementary School in Seattle Boy Scouts of America, Troop 361, Federal Way Üsküdar Esatpaşa Trade School in İstanbul Güngoren Mustafa Kemal Elementary School in İstanbul Çakabey Elementary School in İzmir TAKEV Elementary School in İzmir Ankara Science High School ENKA Elementary School in İstanbul Howe Manning School in Middleton, Massachusetts Fuller Meadow School in Middleton, Massachusetts St. Aloysius Elementary School in Spokane, Washington Pleasant Valley Middle School, Vancouver, Washington Denny Middle School, Seattle, Washington Somerset Elementary School, Seattle, Washington Public presentations help us carry our message to a wider audience. These appearances have opened doors for us into many schools. When instructors become aware of our efforts and our mission, we usually receive a warm invitation to schools as a follow up. Our goal is to have as many public presentations as possible. We will be seeking to work directly with the educators to leverage our content. Educators know best how to teach the students, and how to access the educational system. Around-n-Over will remain a catalyst for this educational endeavor. As of this date we have: Participated in the Cascade Climbers Fall Ropeup in Leavenworth, WA. Presented at The North Face store in downtown Seattle. Presented at the REI Flagship Store in Seattle, WA. Held a presentation at the Second Ascent store in Ballard, near Seattle, WA. Presented for The Mountaineers in Everett on May 5, 2004. Presented for The Mountaineers in Seattle on Sept 9, 2004. Presented at the Seattle Vertical World Oct 2, 2004. Presented at the Boulder REI, CO on Nov 4, 2004. Presented at the St. Louis REI, MO on Nov 22, 2004. Presented at the Brentwood REI, TN on Dec 3, 2004. Held a presentation for the University of Washington Climbing Club on Jan 13, 2005. Presented at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma on April 14, 2005 Presented on their Redmond campus for Microsoft Adventures on April 15, 2005 Presented at Osmangazi University in Eskişehir, Turkey on May 6, 2005 Presented at Middle East Technical University Alumni Clubhouse in Ankara Turkey on May 10, 2005 Presented for İDADİK at Atatürk Stadı, Hakemler Salonu in İzmir, Turkey on May 16, 2005 Presented for Ankara Rotary Club at The Hilton in Ankara, Turkey on May 18, 2005 Presented for Levent Rotary Club at Divan Hotel in İstanbul, Turkey on May 23, 2005 Presented for Boğaziçi University Alumni Association in İstanbul, Turkey on May 23, 2005 Presented for Zirve Mountaineering Club in İstanbul, Turkey on May 24, 2005 Presented for Doğa Aktiviteleri Gurubu in İstanbul, Turkey on May 25, 2005 Presented for Yıldız Teknik University Mountaineering Club in İstanbul, Turkey on May 26, 2005 Presented for Boğaziçi University Mountaineering Club in İstanbul, Turkey on May 27, 2005 Presented at Associação Naval de Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal on October 6, 2005 Presented at the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Explorers Club on September 24, 2006. Presented at the Şişli Rotary Club in İstanbul Presented at the Ataköy Marina in İstanbul Presented at the İstanbul Sailing Club Presented at the Marmara University Medical School at Koşuyolu, İstanbul Presented at the Kartal State Hospital in İstanbul Presented at the Turkish Naval Academy at Tuzla, İstanbul Presented at the Education Department of Boğaziçi University Presented at the Uludağ University in Bursa Presented at the Zirve Mountaineering Club in Bursa Presented at the Aktaş Group Executive Committee in Bursa Presented at the Buca Rotary Club in İzmir Presented at the Eskişehir Rotary Club Presented at the Turkish Rowing Federation Executive Committee meeting Presented for the Adalar Rowing Club in İstanbul Presented for the Ege University Student Groups in İzmir Presented at the Piri Reis Nautical Club in İzmir Presented for the Zirve Mountaineering Club in İzmir Presented at the Hacettepe University Mountaineering Club in Ankara Presented at the Ankara Sailing Club Presented at the Middle East Technical University, Mountaineering and Winter Sports Club Presented at the Annual Meeting of Aktaş Group in Bursa Presented at the Annual Meeting of Mustafa Nevzat Pharmaceuticals in Antalya Speaker and exhibitor at the 2007 Seattle Boat Show Feature Speaker and booth exhibitor at 2007 Seattle Bike Expo Presented at the Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA Presented at the Washington State University in Vancouver, WA Presented at The North Face store in Portland, OR

Charitable Cause

We first need to reach the Wongchu Bishwa Darshan Junior High School in Chyangba, Taptin, Solukhumbu, Nepal. This school lost their sponsor in Göran's death. We want to understand the work that remains to be completed with the school and the community that it serves. One of us needs to visit this community to do a needs assessment.

In order to help this school and others, establishing relationships with key supporters, foundations, corporate and public entities remains a strong desire for Around-n-Over. We are actively networking to gain the audience of decision makers and of those with influence. Our need for funding and locating the resources goes without saying.

We will work with established partners to extend our reach. One such organization is Mountain Fund, which is an umbrella organization to bring together the resources of various nonprofit organizations. In working together and complementing each other, these organizations are more successful. Mountain Fund's mission is to organize grassroots nonprofits and NGO's from a diversity of disciplines, and to support and coordinate these organizations' efforts to eliminate poverty, its causes and symptoms, in mountainous communities.

We are supporting İLKYAR Foundation in Turkey. With their focus on elementary and middle school children, especially on trying to keep girls in school, İLKYAR provides the basic needs of students entirely with volunteer help. We provided İLKYAR with the resources to fund two school libraries. Contributions to our projects from Turkey drive our funding of İLKYAR projects.

Another organization is Room To Read which has roots in some of the countries on Erden's itinerary. Following the tsunami disaster which impacted several countries along the Indian Ocean, Around-n-Over contributed a modest amount toward the Help rebuild schools in Sri Lanka campaign by Room To Read.

Atlantic Crossing (completed)

Erden Eruç joined Tim Harvey in Lisbon to help him across the Atlantic Ocean. This row was intended to assist Tim Harvey to bring his grand human powered journey back to Vancouver, and it was not part of the Six Summits Project, which will require another crossing of the Atlantic to bring the journey back to the Americas.

The duo left Lisbon on October 16, 2005, then was held up in Cascais, 12nm due west, with opposing winds until November 9. They were eventually able to make progress due south to El Jadida and Safi in Morocco, arriving at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on December 11th. Since Jan 1, 2006, Tim Harvey and Erden Eruç are pursuing their own personal objectives.

Beginning on January 29, 2006, Erden Eruç continued alone from Las Palmas to the island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean Sea. His crossing time of 92 days put him into the Caribbean Sea on May 2, 2006. Erden made landfall on the island of Guadeloupe three days later on May 5.

With this accomplishment, Erden Eruç became:

The boat will next be used in the Pacific ocean crossing. His solo ocean crossing provided Erden with significant firsthand experience to be applied to the Six Summits Project.

Dispatches are on our home page, progress charts available from the buttons in the upper right corner of the same.

We hope that you followed along:
  92 days across the Atlantic solo from Canary Islands, landfall at Guadeloupe on day 96!!!
Reports from the boat -- Reported Location
Ocean Rowing Society -- Home Page -- Maps by ARGOS Beacon